Written question asked by Tom Levitt (Labour) on Tuesday, 19 October 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 26 October 1999. It was answered by Baroness Hughes of Stretford (Labour) on Tuesday, 26 October 1999 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what changes were made to BS5422 on thermal insulation of pipes after the Rio Earth Summit; and what assessment he has made of its compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations 1991.

Answer: Mr. Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what changes were made to BS 5422 on thermal insulation of pipes after the Rio Earth Summit; and what assessment he has made of its compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations 1991. [94886] Ms Beverley Hughes: Changes to British Standards are a matter for the British Standards Institute and its technical committees. I am aware however that BS 5422 is currently being revised to incorporate among other things a new method of assessing appropriate insulation thicknesses that takes account of environmental issues. BS 5422 is referenced in the Approved Document which supports Part L of the Building Regulations. This too is currently under review. During the course of the review we shall be examining whether standards of insulation applied to vessels, pipes and ducts should be increased, and also whether the reference to the revised BS 5422 is still appropriate.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 336 c791-2W; 94886
Session: 1998-99
Subjects: Building regulations Insulation UN Conference on Environment and Development